As a seasoned observer of human nature who’s seen my fair share of deals gone awry, I can’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy for Solomon’s predicament. Here’s a man who seems to be as cunning as they come, yet finds himself in a web of his own making. It’s a classic case of overconfidence leading to underestimation, a tale as old as time itself.
In the novel “Pachinko“, the author skillfully manages a multitude of characters spanning different eras without compromising on character development. However, the two-timeline narrative style might lead to one timeline overshadowing the other, making it seem like we’re learning about the characters from memories instead of their actions. Unlike this book, Min Jin Lee presents her story chronologically, allowing the characters to unfold gradually over a prolonged period rather than being pieced together.
In paraphrasing,
However, many things transpire prior to reaching either of these outcomes. Let’s delve into the occurrences detailed in “Chapter Ten.”
1945
As the episode starts, the Baek family’s neighborhood is shrouded in a tense quietness, a precursor to impending disaster. Mozasu and his friends engage in a game of war, with one friend wearing a strangely prophetic gas mask. A Japanese official on a bicycle hands this boy’s mother a note, promptly causing her to weep. When picked up by his elder brother, Mozasu inquires if Noa believes they’ll ever locate his friend’s father’s remains. Although he doesn’t mince words when explaining that it depends on how much of the body has been found, he also comfortingly asserts that God is looking after them.
As I aid Mozasu and Kyunghee in hastily gathering their laundry before the impending storm, Isak stumbles back into the house, seemingly summoned by his son’s wisdom. His appearance is so battered that initially, I can barely recognize him – it takes Kyunghee turning him over on the floor for me to confirm it’s him. Seeing Isak in such a state, Sunja decides we need a doctor, and Kyunghee questions if it’s already too late. Isak looks frail, with cracked lips, yellowed eyes, and a somber gray complexion. This reminds me of the struggle to bring Sunja to Japan during her pregnancy – just as she clung to him on the boat, he now clings to her. But this is Sunja we’re talking about, and she won’t give up easily. She reassures Kyunghee that Isak wouldn’t either: “He has faced death before,” she tells her sister-in-law, reminding us all of his indomitable spirit.
While Sunja departs in search of a doctor, the boys remain at their aunt’s home and are assigned tasks, demonstrating an inspiring eagerness to aid in their father’s rescue. Upon Isak’s instructions, Noa heads out to locate Pastor Hu, who had previously advised patience from a seemingly uncaring teacher in “Chapter Nine”. Meanwhile, Mozasu is dispatched to send an urgent telegram to Yoseb in Nagasaki. Kyunghee emphasizes the importance of this message to Mozasu – it must reach Yoseb – and he carries out the task flawlessly, even managing to win over the stern-looking telegraph operator. In a desperate plea, Noa implores Pastor Hu to accompany him and pray for his father. “I’ve struggled so much to be good,” he says tearfully. “This time, God cannot ignore me again.”
Embarking on a critical quest, I find myself following Sunja’s footsteps. In a desperate bid for help, she approaches Hansu – the sole individual who could potentially secure a doctor amidst the chaos where most are deployed on the frontlines. Her indomitable spirit notwithstanding, we can sense that Sunja will go to extreme lengths to safeguard her family, making her silent consent to Hansu’s proposition less surprising. It was Hansu who had rescued Isak from prison previously – when Sunja inquires about the timing of this act, he reveals that he managed it by striking a deal with an officer for their safe passage out of the city. In return, Hansu promises to find Isak a doctor, “the best the city has left.” The shelter will be their destination, whether Isak is present or not. This transaction seems ruthless, even for Hansu, given that Isak’s life hangs in the balance and his sons are under constant threat of bombings – yet, it aligns with his character.
In a moment hinting at his future ambitious nature, Mozasu shares with Isak his aspirations of amassing great wealth. Isak attempts to impart wisdom by saying “True riches are found in being loved,” but Mozasu expresses a desire that resonates with many when he responds, “I want to be cherished and wealthy.” Each time little Mozasu appears on screen, I find myself struggling to keep back tears as Isak strives to maintain a lighthearted atmosphere with his son, despite the unexpected power outage in their home. In the dark, Mozasu comforts his father by offering him a toy airplane to cling to “so you’re not afraid.”
Although Isak offers guidance, he keeps Mozasu’s future aspirations untouched. It’s Noa who experiences an abrupt loss of innocence when Pastor Hu eventually visits the house. Almost instantly, Isak recognizes Hu as the informant. It was indeed Hu who betrayed Isak to the police; a cruel act, but Hu doesn’t shy away from acknowledging his wrongdoings. He confesses to his arrogance and vanity, admitting he grew envious of the attention Pastor Yoo gave Isak upon arriving in Osaka. Hu appears hurt and ashamed. Isak grants forgiveness instantly; their conversation is a generous gesture, a true display of grace. Knowing that Hu has been living with the weight of his betrayal, Isak offers him an opportunity to confess and seek pardon before it’s too late. Isak is remarkable; he exhibits qualities almost saintly. Part of Noa and Mozasu’s struggle lies in bearing such unwavering goodness.
Despite being young, Noa is reluctant to follow in his father’s footsteps. He expresses strong resentment towards Hu, stating he will never forgive him. Isak attempts to reason with him, asserting that “mercy isn’t a gift or power; mercy is an acknowledgement… survival requires a price.” Perhaps too young and enraged to comprehend his father’s reasons, it appears Isak believes understanding will eventually come for Noa. In his dwindling time, Isak strives to impart wisdom upon his sons. However, the sentiment that resonates most is this: “No matter what, you are my sons, and I am your father.”
Sunja arrives with the doctor who informs her that Isak is critically ill with sepsis and has only a few hours left to live. The doctor, though professional in delivering grim news, appears visibly disturbed by Isak’s condition. He emphasizes that what happened to Isak was “a dreadful act.” After declaring there is no hope for recovery, the doctor departs, leaving Isak to spend his final moments with Sunja. It’s heart-wrenching: Isak yearns for life, dreams of seeing his sons grow up, and craves more time. In a promise to him, Sunja assures he will be proud of their boys’ future accomplishments.
In another way of saying it: Sunja tells her children that no one else will ever be like their father Isak, and she is likely correct. They follow him in a procession, but as his coffin is being taken into the crematorium, warning sirens sound from above. It turns out to be an air raid, no longer just a potential danger, but happening now; they need to rush to seek shelter. Sunja doesn’t want to abandon her husband’s body, but Kyunghee manages to drag her towards safety instead.
1989
In Tokyo, Solomon humbly asks for mercy from Abe-san, who won the title of Businessman of the Year. With no pretense, they sit at a bar together, and the trophy lies between them. Openly, Solomon asks for mercy, but Abe’s response is firm. Despite the potential softening that Solomon might have evoked, Abe admits that their shared background of prosperous upbringings has instilled in them an unyielding determination to succeed. However, this very drive makes it impossible for Abe to show mercy to Solomon. Abe’s actions towards Solomon serve as a stern warning to all of Tokyo: Stay away from him.
It’s puzzling why Abe appears to rely on Solomon as a warning story, given his assertive demeanor typically conveys a “don’t mess with me” message. However, it seems that Solomon’s bluntness is enough to drive her back to the Korean landowner’s house in search of something; it’s not entirely clear what she’s seeking. Perhaps forgiveness, commiseration, or confirmation that she was right? He invites her inside, only to discover that her home has been defaced with graffiti like “get out.” Immediately, Solomon admits that the vandalism is connected to him; he had made a secret deal with someone (implying Yoshii) to pressure her into selling the land to Shiffley’s and Abe. In retrospect, it appears foolish for Solomon to have believed intimidation would work on this woman, as she had previously rejected 1 billion yen. Her determination is so remarkable that she should be the one intimidating others instead. Trying to justify himself, Solomon suggests: “Isn’t that how things often play out? We all betray each other in pursuit of our own survival, unaware we’re helping them.”
Indeed, that’s precisely what the landowner had been attempting to clarify to Solomon all along. His candor put her at ease, and she eventually confided in him that she had acquired that piece of land for a minimal price following the war. The area was shunned due to a rumor about buried corpses, a detail she had to overlook to live there. This information sparked Solomon’s thought process. He seemed fixated on uncovering some sort of small-scale scheme.
Solomon proposes a cunning scheme: He intends to pass the property to Abe first, then spread rumors about buried remains extensively. Solomon believes that if Abe discovers bones on the land, Colton Hotels would refuse to purchase and develop it. By keeping Abe unaware, they ensure he’ll accrue debt with no hope of recovery. Since it’s a poor time for loans, Solomon anticipates this deal will financially ruin Abe while enriching the landowner – and himself. When he excitedly shares this plan with Yoshii, he makes it clear that they stand to gain 10% from the transaction. He displays the same determined expression he had when Tetsuya informed him of withdrawing investment last week in the parlor. He emphasizes to Yoshii that Abe will unequivocally know who is responsible for his financial downfall.
Despite Solomon’s massive self-importance apparent to all, he demonstrates an ability to look beyond himself. He understands why the landowner might feel resentful and even his own grandmother might harbor such feelings due to the contrast between his easy circumstances and their hardships. Yet, like the landowner herself, Solomon is resolute, showing no signs of wavering until he obtains what he desires in his preferred manner. In the end, Abe-san will be left with no choice but to admire him for a skillfully played game.
Pinball Thoughts
As a movie buff putting pieces together, I couldn’t help but ponder how it was conceivable that Abe, or Colton Hotels, remained oblivious about the haunted lore attached to that piece of land. Given his shrewd business acumen, it seemed almost impossible for anything to slip past Abe. Yet, an investment opportunity mentioned casually over lunch somehow managed to reach him on the very same evening. I found myself questioning, how could he have overlooked such a glaring red flag in the property’s description?
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2024-08-30 18:54